"Main kuch samjha nahi!",

says Vikram.

"Magar main sub kuch samjh rahi hoon.",

says Nitya, glaring at infinity.

Nitya wipes off her tears and says,

"Vikram, tum... tum chaho to yahan ruk sakte ho. Vivaan ke saath uske kamre mein so sakte ho."

That flutters Vikram's heart.

"Kya! Main... main... yahan ruk sakta hoon?",

he asks, unable to believe.

Nitya looks towards him and nods her head, smiling.

"Apne... apne bete ke paa...s...??",

asks Vikram.

Nitya's eyes well up and she nods her head.

"Tha...nk... thank you Nitya... Thank you so...",

Vikram opens his arms to hug her but stops abruptly. Blood drains out of Vikram's face. Nitya's heart skips a beat too. She looks away hesitantly. Vikram too looks away briefly before slowly looking back towards her. His face still flushed.

"Bohot der ho chuki hai, I think... I think humein so jaana chahiye.",

suggests Nitya, avoiding looking towards Vikram.

Vikram nods his head, feeling awkward.

Taking a deep breath, Nitya leaves for her room.

Vikram stares towards the retreating figure of Nitya.

●●●●●

Vikram after spending some more quality time with Vivaan pats him to sleep. Himself laying next to him.

Meanwhile in her room Nitya walks to and fro in frustration and anger, remembering eveything that had happened in the past. She shakes her head in slow motion every now and then; her brows tightly knit. Her arms folded and rested against her abdominal. Her speed of walk - quick.

"Main kaise nahi dekh payi pehle? Kaise mujhse ye chook ho gayi!",

Nitya blames herself.

"Seema ki nazar pehle se hi Vikram par thi!",

she realises.

"Bahane banakar wo ghar par aati rehti thi!",

remembers Nitya.

She slaps her forehead in anger and says,

"Aur main bewakoof samjhti thi ke usey meri fikr hai isliye aati hai baar-baar milne!"

"God! Kaise? Kaise mujhse aisi galti hui?",

she couldn't help but blame herself over and over.

Stopping, determined, she says,

"Magar koi baat nahi. Der se hi sahi, tumhe apna gunaah kuboolna hoga Seema! Kuboolna hoga!"

She creases her brows further.

●●●●●

Next morning Sujal and Kashish were having their breakfast in their room when Sujal asks her, almost like reminds her,

"Kashish kya tumne KKN Channel waalon ko interview dene ke baare mein kuch socha hai?"

Kashish turns serious as his question drags her back to the memories of the incident, which are nightmare to her.

Taking her time, determined Kashish says,

"Haan Sujal. Main taiyar hoon."

Placing the cup on the center table, Sujal bends forward and takes her right hand in between his hands. Kashish rests her left hand on his hand, and focuses on Sujal, smiling a little.

Sujal looks up towards her such that his forehead creases and says,

"Dekho Kashish, haan tabhi kehna jab tum mentally bilkul prepared ho. Wahan camere par tumse tarah-tarah ke sawaal kiye jayenge jinka jawab sirf tum hi de sakti ho. Main tumhari kuch madad nahi kar paunga. Tumhe unn sawaalon ke jawab dene ke liye phirse uss purey haadse ko yaad karna hoga. Unn sub feelings se phirse guzarna hoga. Agar tumhe lagta hai ke tum ye kar sakti ho, sirf tabhi haan kehna. Main tumpar kisi bhi tarah ka mental pressure nahi daalna chahta.",

Sujal makes it clear.

Kashish smiles and tightens her hold on his hand before saying,

"Sujal, main iss baare mein soch chuki hoon. Main chahti hoon ke main subke saamne poori suchai rakhun. Aur iske liye mujhe unn sawaalon ka bhi saamna karna hoga. Aur kahin na kahin main chahti hoon ke koi mere saamne apne sawaal rakhein taaki main bhi samjh paun ke wo kya sochte hain iss baare mein aur mujhe kitna samjhana hai unhe."

looking away, knitting her brows tight, her hands still holding his hand, Kashish continues,

"Aisa karne se shayad mere dil ko bhi sukoon miley. Warna mere liye uss haadse ki yaadon se bahar nikalna bohot mushkil ho raha hai. Main subko ye batana chahti hoon ke aatmaon ke wajood ko koi thukraye nahi."

Sujal cascades his eyes, feeling guilty of not accepting the existence of spirits.

Looking back towards him, she assures him,

"Main taiyar hoon Sujal. Tum baat karlo unse."

Sujal stares her for a brief moment, considering her words and nods his head in acceptance.

"Aur phir tum to ho na humesha mere saath, to mujhe kis baat ka dar?",

asks Kashish, smiling looking towards Sujal.

Sujal pats lightly on her hand, smiling back at her.

"Main Ms. Kashyap se baat kar leta hoon.",

says Sujal.

Kashish nods her head.

Sujal calls Ananya for Kashish's interview. Kabeer receives the call as Ananya's phone is with him.

"Mr. Garewal!",

Kabeer reads the name flashing on the screen.

Receiving the call, Kabeer talks to him,

"Hello Mr. Garewal, main Kabeer Sharma bol raha hoon."

That comes as a surprise for Sujal.

"Kabeer Sharma?! Magar maine to Ms. Ananya Kashyap ko call kiya tha! Ye Ms. Kashyap ka number nahi?",

asks Sujal, confused, smiling a little.

Kabeer clarifies,

"Ji! Ji ye Ananya ka hi number hai. Wo darasal baat ye hai ke Ananya... Ananya abhi hospitalized hai so uska phone mere paas hi hai."

That comes as a shock for Sujal.

"Kya? Hospitalized!"

Kashish knits her brows tight, shocked and eager to know what is he talking about.

"Kyun? Kya hua Ananyaji ko?"

asks Sujal, tensed and curious.

"Wo darasal baat ye hai ki...",

and Kabeer tells him everything.

Shiver runs down Sujal's spine.

"Ye... ye ho kya raha hai aaj kal har jagah pata nahi!",

says Sujal, frustrated.

Kashish stares Sujal, tensed, wondering what is he talking about.

"Doctors kya keh rahe hain?",

asks Sujal, tensed.

"Doctor Ananya ke hosh mein aane ka intezaar kar rahe hain. Uske baad hi wo kuch keh sakenge.",

says Kabeer.

"Aap kahein to hum aayein? Agar aapko kisi tarah ki madad chahiye ho to.",

says Sujal, concerned.

"Nahi Sujal ji. It's alright. Main sambhal loonga.",

assures Kabeer, smiling.

"Theek hai. Hum phir ye interview kisi aur din kar lenge.",

says Sujal.

"Arey nahi. Main kisi aur ko bhej deta hoon interview lene.",

says Kabeer.

"Nahi Kabeer ji. Ananya ji hi interview lengi Kashish ka. Hum unke theek hone ka intezaar karenge.",

says Sujal, his brows knit together.

Kashish nods her head, accepting his decision.

Kabeer smiles in gratitude and says,

"Alright. Thank you."

"Main aapse baad mein baat karta hoon. Aap Miss Ananya ka dhyan rakhiyega.",

says Sujal.

"Ji!",

replies Kabeer, smiling.

Sujal ends the call.

"Kya hua hai Ananya ko Sujal?",

asks Kashish, curious.

Sujal tells her everything.

That comes as a shock for Kashish.

"Kya!!",

she exclaims.

"Sujal humein Ananya se jaakar milna chahiye.",

suggests Kashish, concerned.

Sujal nods his head, his back partially turned towards Kashish, and says,

"Haan Kashish. Mujhe bhi yahi lagta hai."

They both drown into the pool of thought.

●●●●●

Ananya gains back her consciousness. Naushad checks her in the presence of Meher and Kabeer and asks her,

"Ab kaisa lag raha hai aapko Ananyaji?",

smiling.

Ananya nods her head a little, smiling a little.

Kabeer and Ronnie are sitting at either sides of her.

"Good. Magar abhi bhi aap mein bohot weakness hai isliye aapko apni diet ka poora dhyan rakhna hoga.",

advices Naushad.

"Doctor aap chinta mat kijiye, main jamkar khilaunga Ananya ko. Aur agar isne nakhre kiye to achi khasi class le lunga.",

says Ronnie, looking towards Ananya.

Kabeer and others smile along with Ananya.

"Ro...nnie... Ri...cha... aur baki sub...",

Ananya somehow manages to utter.

"Sub tera office mein intezaar kar rahe hain. Tu bus ab jaldi se theek hokar KKN aaja.",

says Ronnie, smiling.

"Ha..an... Ro...nnie... main bhi... ma...in... bhi aana.... aa...na chahti hoon KKN.",

says Ananya.

"Filhal tum KKN ke baare mein mat socho. Aaraam karo.",

says Kabeer, concerned.

Ananya looks towards Kabeer and smiles. Kabeer stays serious, staring her out of love. Ananya extends her hand to him. Kabeer sighs and holds her hand giving her strength and at the same time deriving strength from her.

Taking a deep breath, Ananya happens to look towards the entrance of the room and finds a man around Kabeer's age, standing there. She knits her brows staring the man. The man stares her back. Ananya, staring him throughout, asks Kabeer,

"Ye kon hai Kabeer?"

Kabeer looks towards her and finds her staring towards the entrance of the room. Kabeer turns to look towards the entrance but finds no one there.

"Kon?",

asks Kabeer, knitting his brows, upon finding no one there.

"Wo! Wo jo ander aa raha hai.",

says Ananya, her rate of heartbeat picking up pace.

Kabeer turns to look towards Ananya, his eyes opened wide, and he asks,

"Kon aa raha hai?"

Ananya rotates her eye balls from left to right to left to right in quick succession and soon says,

"Nahi! Nahi koi nahi!"

Ananya realises that there is something uncanny going on here. She chooses to keep it to herself for now as it is too much to process and then explain it to Kabeer. She decides to explore it alone first.

Concerned, Kabeer places his hand on her shoulder. That startles Ananya and she looks towards Kabeer. Kabeer could feel her shiver and asks,

"Su...b... theek hai na Ananya?"

Ananya nods her head to assure Kabeer. But the faded colour of her skin tells Kabeer that something is amiss. He again turns to look towards the door.

Naushad, Meher and Ronnie too wonder what's the matter.

●●●●●

Dr. Shalini is sitting in her chair at the infirmary. Naina and Pooja have occupied their seats in front of her, their fingers interwined and rested on the desk, respectively. Rajveer is standing to the left of Naina and Ali to the right of Pooja. Rajveer has his right fist resting at Dr. Shalini's desk while his left hand holding his waist, his body inclined to the right. His brows knit. Ali has his arms crossed and rested against his abdominal.

"Magar Ma'am Vansh ke baare mein sub kuch itne detail mein jaanna. Phir uske gunehgaar ko saza dilane ki baat karna. Kisiko ye sub karke kya faida milega?",

asks Ali, wondering.

"Yahi baat tabse main samjhne ki koshish kar raha hoon.",

says Rajveer, all serious.

"Aur wo kis letter ki baat kar rahi thi?",

asks Rajveer.

"Wo Gunny aur Vidya hon ya na hon, magar jo unhone kaha wo baat to sahi hai. Wo letter hai library mein zaroor kahin. Isiliye Naina ke saath ye sub kuch hua.",

says Naina.

All of them agree with her.

Naina looks towards Rajveer and discovers the expression of shock on his face. His eyeballs move from left to right to left in quick succession. His expression tells Naina that something is going on in his mind; that something he has realized, which he hasn't shared with them yet.

"Wo Gunny aur Vidya nahi hain!",

says Rajveer, shocked, but there is certain kind of confidence in his tone.

They all look towards Rajveer, perplexed.

Slowly, looking towards Naina, Rajveer reveals,

"Wo.... Vansh aur Vidya hain!"

Blood drains out of the faces of all of his spectators!

"Vansh!",

exclaim all of his listeners in non-uniform intervals.

●●●●●

Rajveer nods his head, staring at them, never blinking his eyes.

"Gunny aur Vidya kabhi hum mein se kisiki jaan khatre mein nahi daal sakte. Magar.... Vansh Vidya ko majboor kar sakta hai ke wo Naina ki jaan khatre mein daalkar Vansh ke gunehgaaron ko saza dilwaye.",

says Rajveer.

Shivers run down the spine of each one of his listeners. They nod their heads slowly in shock and acceptance.

"To ab kya karna chahiye humein Captain?",

asks Dr. Shalini, tensed, curious, her brows knit.

"To ab bus ye hoga ke hum mein se koi bhi iss baare mein koi baat nahi karega. Iss baat ko bura sapna samjhkar sub bhool jao.",

says Rajveer.

"Magar Sir kya aisa karne se Vidya aur Vansh Naina ka peecha chhorh denge?",

asks Pooja, concerned.

"Wo agar peecha nahi chhorehnge to main chhurwaunga unka peecha!",

says a determined Rajveer.

"Ye tumne acha nahi kiya Captain! Ye tumne acha nahi kiya!",

shouts Vansh.

Startled, they all turn to look towards Vansh and finds Vansh and Vidya glaring at Rajveer.

Blood drains out of the faces of all of them witnessing Vansh and Vidya in front of their eyes.

Rajveer glares them. All others stare them in horror.

"Ab tum subko iss baat ki saza milegi! Zaroor milegi!",

says Vansh, glaring them.

"Agar kisi galat raaste par chalne se khudko rokne ki saza tum humein dena chahte ho Vansh, to tumhara saamna karne ke liye main taiyar hoon!",

says Rajveer, glaring him.

"Ab mera saamna sirf tumhe nahi Captain iss puri academy ko karna hoga!",

declares Vansh.

Heartbeat of not only Rajveer but all other listeners of Vansh excluding Vidya, skip a beat each.

"Taiyar rehna Rajveer! Ab hum tumhare saamne nahi ayenge magar phir bhi tumhare paas hi rahege, tumhare ird-gird!",

warning Rajveer, Vansh and Vidya disappear.

Rajveer gets shocked hearing Vansh.

"Ye kya karne ki soch raha hai Sir?",

asks Pooja, shocked.

Rajveer stares at infinity, shocked and clueless.

●●●●●

"Main discharge papers taiyar kar deta hoon. Aap Ananya ji ko le ja sakte hain. But please unka pura dhyan rakhiyega. Kisi baat ka stress na ho unhe.",

says Naushad, smiling.

Kabeer tells Naushad,

"Aap bilkul chinta mat kijiye doctor main Ananya ko koi stress nahi hone dunga."

Naushad smiles and nods his head and pats Kabeer on his back and leaves.

"Sir main canteen ja raha hoon, aap kuch lenge?",

asks Ronnie.

"Haan Ronnie, ek cup garam chai agar la pao to...",

smiles Kabeer.

"Sure Sir!",

smiles Ronnie and leaves for canteen.

Kabeer reaches the entrance of Ananya's room and discovers her staring towards the right wall.

He looks towards the wall and wonders what is she staring at!

"Kaisi ho Ananya?",

asks Kabeer, smiling.

Ananya keeps staring the wall, her eyes unblinked.

Kabeer again looks towards the wall for a brief moment then turns back to look towards Ananya and calls her out,

"Ananya?"

Startled Ananya, turns to look towards Kabeer and says,

"Haan!"

Kabeer knits his brows lightly realising that something is amiss. But chooses to not show it to Ananya, what he is observing, he says,

"Soch raha hoon ye jo naya show shuru kiya hai na aatmaon ke upar. Band kar doon. Koi dekhta to nahi hai!",

he shakes his head.

"Kyun?!",

comes Ananya instant protest.

That comes as a shock for Kabeer.

"Arey tumhe to ye sub pasand nahi tha na. Soch raha hoon Khalid ko keh doon ke ye sub shows na dikhayein.",

says Kabeer.

"Nahi!",

exclaims Ananya, immediately.

Kabeer gets alert.

"Mera matlab... bohot kuch hai uss duniya ke baare mein jaanne ke liye.",

says Ananya.

Kabeer nods his head slowly, gauging her reaction, seriously.

"Aur... aur....",

Ananya tries to find some points to convince Kabeer.

Her eyes twinkle out of excitement as she remembers,

"Aur Mrs. Naina Singh Shekhawat ka interview bhi to lena hai abhi mujhe."

Kabeer smiles and nods his head.

Ananya smiles a little.

●●●●●

"Ghar par baat hui?",

asks Meher, sitting with Naushad.

Naushad nods his head.

"Kaisi hai Alia?",

she asks.

"Theek hai.",

says Naushad.

"Meher I am sorry, meri wajah se aapko bhi wo sub kuch jhelna parha ghar par.",

apologizes Naushad.

"Naushad, kya Alia meri kuch nahi lagti?",

asks Meher.

Naushad and Meher stare each other, smiling.

Naushad, cautiously, takes Meher's hand in his hands,

"Main bhi to tumhara kuch lagta hoon Meher!"

Meher shivers in shyness and cascades her eyes.

Naushad keeps staring Meher.

"Mere dukh-dard ko baantne ke liye tum humesha mere paas rehti ho. To kya mujhe haq nahi ke main tumhare dukh-dard ko baant sakoon?",

asks Naushad, politely.

Meher looks towards him. A little smile stretches on her lips.

"Kaisi hain aap?",

asks Naushad, gauging her mood.

"Theek hoon.",

says Meher.

"Aaj tum jis tarah hospital mein aa gayi aur actively har kaam mein participate kar rahi ho...",

Naushad trails off, then asks,

"... kyun apne dard ko chhupane ki koshish kar rahi ho?"

Meher looks into his eyes hearing that. Her eyes well up.

Naushad embraces her into a hug. Meher rests her head against his chest, crying profusely. Naushad rubs her shoulder in slow succession to calm her down and provide her strength as well.

"Ammi se baat hui?",

asks Naushad, still keeping her in his embrace.

Meher tightens her hold on him, hearing her Ammi's mention.

"Main unse baat nahi kar paungi. Unhe nahi bata paungi.",

says Meher, nervous.

"Bata paogi Meher. Tumhe bata dena chahiye.",

suggests Naushad.

Getting away from him, Meher looks at him and shakes her head, crying. Naushad nods his head, staring her and rubs off her tears.

"Call karo Meher!",

says Naushad.

Meher stares Naushad nervously.

Naushad nods his head, giving strength to her.

Meher brings out her mobile and slowly dials her mother's number.

"Hello Ammi!",

says Meher, once she receives the call.

"Haan Meherunissa! Kaisi hain aap?",

asks her mother, smiling.

"Khana time par kha raheen hain na aap?",

she asks.

"Ji... Ji... Ammi. Main... main theek hoon.",

says Meher.

"Ammi darasal mujhe aapse kuch kehna hai. Isliye... isliye call kiya tha.",

says Meher, nervously.

"Haan beta boliye. Darasal humein bhi aapko kuch batana hai.",

says her mother, excited.

"Kya batana hai Ammi?",

asks Meher, knitting her brows lightly, curious.

"Pehle aap bataiye aapko kya batana tha!",

says her Ammi.

"Ahmm... Darasal Ammi... Abbu... wo... Abbu...",

Meher, gets nervous.

"Aapko pata chal gaya?",

asks her Ammi, shocked.

That comes as a shock for Meher!

Widening her eyes she asks,

"Aapko pata hai?"

Naushad knits his brows, shocked.

"Arey bhai...",

her mother, Rabia turns to face the person sitting in front of her and says,

"Aapke Abbu yahan aaye hain, ye humein nahi pata hoga to kisey pata hoga?"

Meher widens her eyes further out of shock! What the hell is her mother talking about?!

"K...kya... k..ya... ke...h rahi hain aap Ammi?",

asks Meher, her heart throbbing inside her chest.

"Yakeen nahi ho raha na? Humein bhi nahi hua tha! Magar wo yahin hain dekhiye... a.... rukiye hum abhi video call karte hain aapko.",

saying so Rabia ends the call.

"Am....",

Meher couldn't complete and the call ends.

Meher shivers out of shock.

"Meher? Kya hua?",

asks Naushad, resting his hand on her shoulder, tensed.

Meher, in her shock state slowly looks towards him and says,

"Abbu.... Abbu wahan hain Mumbai mein Ammi ke saath!"

That comes as a shock for Naushad. He knits his brows tight.